Fly4Pay

"For those who fight for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know. "

Enjoy your bitter attitude. For your freedom, you're welcome, by the way.

(For the record, I'm typing this from southwest Asia. I'll be here another month or so...)

hyflyt560

The Army Guard and Reserves are critically short helicopter pilots. And, all you need is vision corrected to 20/40. I also believe the age to begin flight school is now 37.5. So, I believe a few of you should be running down to the local recruiter! Then, you too can "abuse" the system and take advantage of the military requirements for currency, training, sorties, etc. Heck, the Army will take you at age 42 for certain other jobs.

With the strained DoD budget, if anyone is leaving their airline job for a few days or a few months, it's because the various services need us to do stuff...menial, cush, boring, dangerous, whatever.

And yes, I volunteered for a short tour of six months (the Army's definition) so I could bypass recall at United for a bit...totally to my advantage. Then again, in a detachment of five pilots, four of the five needed to "volunteer." You're more than welcome to join me in Colombia for the trip. I'm sure they'll issue flak vests for those nasty FARC bullets.

1Seat 1Engine

In 20 years when your grandkid sits on your lap and asks,"grandpa, what did you do to help defeat Terrorism during the great war?" is your answer going to be, "I complained about having to pick up some less than optimum trips for the guys in the fight!"

1Seat 1Engine

You've obviously never seen the sunrise over Mosul after 6.0 hours on station, staring at a 4x4 inch screen with NVG's on in a 45 degree bank right turn the entire flipping time (sore neck and and the bridge of your nose bleeding). At least the monotony get's broken up by a night refueling with a blacked out tanker once an hour.

And if you ever do drop a bomb, you'd better know your Miranda rights and have your lawyer review your tape first, because you're going to be second guessed by everyone up the chain of command until your feet bleed.

Flying fighters ain't what it used to be.

Sasquatch

Listen up those of you who are mad as hornets because of av8r4aa's post. He's not attacking your service. He's attacking those in the guard who, for example, will use military orders to conflict a day here and there squarely and deliberately with their schedules, and vice versa. A wrong is a wrong, whether he in the past has dropped bombs in Iraq or his head on a desk.

Thanks again for touching such a delicate subject, American pilot. Time for a beer.

CargoBob

What AA said was a blanket insult to the men and women who sacrafice money and family to serve in the military.

Not only was it insulting, but also inaccurate (bordering an all out lie). Guard and reserve pilots can't get out of Christmas/Thanksgiving airline flying unless they are deployed or on continuous orders. I'll admit, I got out of Christmas/Thanksgiving airline flying when I was deployed at Tallil AB Iraq 2003.

If a guy is abusing the system he is risking his career--all the CPO has to do is call his commander and/or request to see his pay statements...the vast majority of domestic mil ops shut down over the holidays.

HERE IS THE BIG QUESTION: Don't you feel good about the possibility that a military man/women gets a good deal occasionally...maybe a small benefit here and there as a consolation to all of the nights deployed away from home in a hostile country?

The both of you should be ashamed. Please keep your posts in mind when you see the next military reservist killed in Iraq on the news or your ALPA newsletter.

navyman_tx

The joy of freedom...You are able to make the comments you desire!

TonyC

All it takes is one person abusing the system, and it makes everyone look bad by association.


I don't think av8r4aa intended to impugn the service of any hard-working American serviceman. However, anybody who has been associated with airline pilots who also serve in the Guard or Reserve has probably at least heard of some sort of questionable use of orders to avoid a less than desirable airline schedule. For example, rumors abound at FedEx of newhires that voluntarily activate for a year immediately after "Newhire training" in order to avoid first year pay.


Now, regardless of whether the rumor is true or false, it hurts the image of the Reservist/Guardsman. Every conscientious serviceman should himself be offended if it's actually happening, and should be equally as desirous of ending such abuse, if indeed it exists. Perhaps there was a better way of beginning this discussion, but it IS worth discussing. It's in the best interest of ALL of us to preserve our nation, AND preserve the positive image of the serviceman. In my opinion, anyone abusing the system is attacking both.






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Lab Rat

From a Civilian Guy

To anyone here who has served or is presently serving in the defense of our nation: thank-you.

The fact that I can go to work, earn a living, and pursure a life in a free, democratic society is the direct result of the men and women who have fought and died for this freedom.

reddog25

Geez...I'm sure U relize that you have opened up a can of worms...75%??The only reason you still have an airline job is because there are those of us out there trying to balance a family life, airline life and fight a war. 75%???? Where do you get off with that type of statement. If there is abuse it would be a slim minority of non-professionals...similar to calling in sick for a holiday or family engagement and forcing someone else to fly your trip. I'm certain with your high work ethics you've never done that. BTW 2 tours to Iraq costing me over $100,000 in lost income in 24 months. Not complaining, I'd do it again. Just asking you to stick to something do best and leave the defending to those who are willing to put it on the line....S/F Ripper